Birthday Hearts

How can it be that I, a sprightly lady, albeit with a bus pass, but feeling in the first flush of youth, waken this morning to celebrate my two sons' birthdays of 50 and 40 years respectively? The occasion certainly brings me down to earth with a bump.

Exactly 50 years ago, son #1 surprised both parents and sisters, by his appearance as a big bruiser of a baby, all 10 pounds of him and so squashed it took days for his eyes to open properly, but not so long for him to let us know who ruled the roost.
My confidence in baby care after two daughters took a nosedive having to listen to what seemed like non stop wailing. Nevertheless it improved after 3 months and since then this son has been a model of rectitude and has never given his parents a moment's worry. Now he is a caring husband, a loving father and an outdoor enthusiast.

Possibly the most disappointing day of his life occurred when he woke up on his 10th birthday, 40 years ago, to discover his mother, me, was not at home and had spoiled the occasion by presenting him with a baby brother- a longer, lighter version of himself. Here was son#2, still weighty at 9lbs but able to open his eyes and survey his glum brother but adoring older sisters and attendant friends, just at the age to love playing with babies.
In time he too became master of all he surveyed when his older siblings left home and he acquired two younger sisters to torment.
He is witty, artistic and musical. After years abroad in Oman, Egypt and Hungary, he is relocating back to Scotland with his partner. It will be lovely to have him home again.

I am sure they each feel their respective birthdays today to be horrendous, but I would counsel them to enjoy the lightness of their years, because it will get worse, much worse.